BRATTLEBORO — The state's emergency motel voucher program is set to continue providing motel rooms as COVID-safe shelter through March 31, 2021. Those who do not qualify for such lodging can take cover in a seasonal overflow shelter in a local motel.
Groundworks Collaborative has been providing support to more than 180 people from at least 100 households currently sheltering in Brattleboro motels.
Employees of the nonprofit have noted an increase in the number of people who are found ineligible for state-funded motel rooms.
“We are fortunate to live in a state that has prioritized shelter for people experiencing homelessness, by opening up motels and working with organizations like Groundworks to provide supportive services,” Executive Director Josh Davis said in a news release.
Groundworks has put together a plan to open the Overflow Shelter in the conference room of one Brattleboro motel where the organization's staff already provide supportive services to residents.
“We need to continue to ensure safety for anyone in need of shelter throughout the coming winter,” said Groundworks' Director of Operations Rhianna Kendrick.
The plan has a tentative start date of Nov. 30 and will allow emergency shelter beds for people found ineligible for emergency motel vouchers as well as people newly seeking shelter in the Brattleboro area.
No one currently in a motel room will have to leave.
Davis reports that the daytime shelter on South Main Street will open in the organization's new building on April 1, “once we can transition our staff out of the motels and fully open the new Day Shelter.”
The 2021-22 Seasonal Overflow Shelter will operate in the new building on South Main Street beginning in November 2021.
At this time, Groundworks is working through community partners to provide meals for the occupants of the additional shelter beds.
The organization is not calling on its cadre of volunteer meal teams in the short term, except for those interested in providing homemade dishes for the upcoming Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's holiday meals for people sheltering in motels.
Anyone interested in helping in this way should contact Groundworks at meals@GroundworksVT.org.